Here’s How To Prevent Dehydration

When you hear the word “dehydration,” it’s easy to picture a cartoon character crawling across hot desert sand with an empty canteen and no hope in sight.

You might not think about the confused older adult, the fussy toddler who’s not shedding tears even though they’re crying or those times when you were tired, headachy and very thirsty. This is what dehydration looks like in the real world.

But you can beat dehydration before it gets severe. Emergency medicine physician Baruch Fertel, MD, and pediatrician Paula Sabella, MD, break down the warning signs of dehydration and offer some tips for staying safe when temperatures rise.

What is dehydration and what causes it?

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. When you’re dehydrated, your body can’t function as intended. While you might associate dehydration with extreme temperatures, there are quite a few things that can contribute to it.

Dehydration can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Fever.
• Excessive sweating.
• Continuous vomiting or diarrhea.
• Frequent urination.
• Not drinking enough water.

Who’s more at risk for dehydration?

As dehydration can be caused by illness or being in extreme heat, any of us can be susceptible to it. But there are a few populations that are at a slightly higher risk:

• If you work outdoors, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends hydrating before you start the work day if you’re working in high temperatures. If you start the work day dehydrated, it’s harder to replenish what your body has lost.
• Older adults are at higher risk for dehydration because our body’s fluid reserves decrease as we age. Your body also gets to the point where it might not effectively communicate thirst.
• Infants and toddlers are at risk because they can’t tell you when they’re thirsty. Dehydration can also develop when they’re sick.
• If you have a chronic condition, you might be more susceptible to dehydration, especially if you’re living with a digestive condition that causes frequent diarrhea. Medications can also cause dehydration if they have diuretics in them.
• If you’re pregnant, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) can cause severe vomiting and make it tough to keep fluids down. In some cases, you might require IV fluids to prevent dehydration.
• If you’re an athlete, it doesn’t matter if you’re outside, indoors or even in water — you can become dehydrated in any setting. When you’re engaged in intense physical activity, your body temperature rises. Sweat cools your body down, but you lose fluids and electrolytes in the process. You can become dehydrated if both aren’t replenished.

Signs of dehydration

Whether it’s the start of summer vacation or you’re gearing up for an upcoming trip, many of us are excited to get outside and have fun in the sun — even in higher temperatures. But to prevent dehydration and heat stroke, it’s important to stay hydrated.

Dr. Fertel shares a few dehydration symptoms to look out for:

Signs of dehydration in older children and adults

“When someone is dehydrated, they’ll experience intense thirst,” he says. “They also might not urinate frequently. Those are signs that you’re not getting enough fluids and progressing to dehydration. As you’re out in the heat more, you may feel warm to the touch and stop sweating. What you’re experiencing can progress to heat stroke. And by this point, you might have an altered mental status or not act right.”

Here’s a rundown of the many signs dehydration can take in both older children and adults:

• Thirst.
• Less urination.
• Warm-to-the-touch skin.
• Not sweating.
• Being cranky or anxious.
• Headache, delirium, confusion.
• Fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Dry mouth and/or a dry cough.
• High heart rate with low blood pressure.
• Not being hungry but possibly craving sugar.
• Flushed skin.
• Swelling in the feet.
• Muscle cramping.
• Heat intolerance, or chills.
• Constipation.
• Urine that’s darker in color (not light or clear).

Once you recognize that someone is dehydrated, Dr. Fertel recommends getting them out of the heat and giving them plenty of fluids. Water is best, or a sports drink or electrolyte packet. But definitely stay away from drinking any alcohol.

If someone is confused, fainting, not urinating or in shock, get help immediately. The same also goes for heavy breathing or a rapid heartbeat.

How to tell if a baby or toddler is dehydrated

Identifying dehydration with kids, especially babies and toddlers, requires a little more investigation. While small children can’t express that they’re thirsty with words, their behaviors can reveal how they’re feeling. Be on the lookout for these signs:

• They’re less playful and sleepier.
• They can be more irritable than usual.
• The soft spot on their head is sunken in.
• There’s a decrease in wet diapers.
• Fewer or no tears when crying.

“With infants, the clues to dehydration may be subtle. However, if you notice any of the signs, contact your child’s healthcare provider right away,” says Dr. Sabella.

With kids of all ages, she adds that urination changes are also a major red flag. A child’s urine should normally be clear or a light yellow color.

“If a child’s urine appears golden, darker in color or seems concentrated, this suggests dehydration and is an indication to give the child more fluids,” she continues. “Additionally, a decrease in urination or wet diapers is a serious sign of dehydration in children. You should call your child’s doctor if an infant has less than six wet diapers per day or if a toddler or older child has no urine output within eight hours.”

According to Dr. Sabella, infants 0 to 6 months of age may be given additional breast milk or formula for hydration. But they shouldn’t be given plain water at this age.

How to prevent dehydration in adults

Here are some ways to avoid dehydration:

Drink plenty of water

This is an obvious one, yes. But as we all know, life can get busy and sometimes, before you know it, the day is half over and you realize you haven’t drunk enough water.

“The most important thing someone can do to prevent themselves from experiencing a heat-related illness is to stay hydrated,” reiterates Dr. Fertel. “It’s really important, especially when it’s extremely hot outside.”

On average, you should drink about 125 ounces a day if you’re male and 91 ounces if you’re female. If it’s helpful, try setting reminders or always having a reusable water bottle with you to help you stay hydrated during the day.

Drink more water when being active outside

It’s best to be proactive about staying hydrated if you work outside or if you’re doing an outdoor workout. But you don’t want to just guzzle water once you start your workout or job. Instead, drink water before you start getting active and before you even feel thirsty.

Once you’re in the heat, drink one cup of water (8 fluid ounces) every 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid drinking more than 48 ounces of water or sports drinks in an hour because doing so might cause the amount of salt in your blood to drop too low. And hydrate afterward to replace what you might have lost from sweating.

Eat hydrating foods

There are other ways to make sure you’re staying hydrated as well. And luckily, a lot of these snacks are perfect picnic and beach-day foods.

Go for foods with high water content, like:

• Watermelon.
• Oranges.
• Strawberries.
• Cucumbers.
• Iceberg lettuce.
• Cauliflower.
• Soup.

Limit alcohol, sugar and caffeine

A couple things that aren’t good for dehydration — sugar, caffeine and alcohol. Be mindful of how much you’re consuming, especially on hot days. Stay away from energy drinks and caffeinated drinks as well.

“When we talk about hydration, it’s really important to drink water or other nonalcoholic liquids, as alcohol can actually exacerbate dehydration. It can be a diuretic and cause you to urinate more,” warns Dr. Fertel.

Be mindful of medications

Some medications, such as diuretics, can increase urine production and contribute to dehydration. Your doctor may have you on these medications to help with things like high blood pressure, diabetes or cardiomyopathy. If you’re taking such medications, consult your healthcare provider for guidance on how to maintain the right level of hydration.

The bottom line

Dehydration is no joke. Water intake can be something we overlook, especially when we’re outside having fun. But it’s critical to stay hydrated. It’s also important to know the signs of dehydration so you can recognize them in yourself and others.